Audrey Jordan receives principal’s award

/0 Comments/in , /by

Audrey Jordan, of Whitefield, a senior at Erskine Academy, has been selected to receive the 2017 Principal’s Award, Headmaster Michael McQuarrie announced. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principal’s Association, is given in recognition of a high school senior’s academic excellence, outstanding school citizenship, and leadership.

Audrey Jordan

Jordan, a consistent high-honors student in a program with numerous Advanced Placement courses and Concurrent Enrollment classes with nearby colleges, has also accumulated hundreds of hours of valuable community service, many at the MaineGeneral Medical Center and St. Michael’s School, in Augusta.

“Audrey, an exemplary student and fine ambassador of Erskine Academy and young people in general, personifies the school’s core values of scholarship, leadership, stewardship and relationships, making her most deserving of this recognition,” noted Headmaster McQuarrie when making the award.

Jordan, McQuarrie, and other award winners and their principals will attend an honors luncheon at the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor on Saturday, April 1, at 12:30 p.m.

The honors luncheon recognizes these outstanding students with the presentation of an individual plaque and the awarding of five $1,000 scholarships in the names of Horace O. McGowan and Richard W. Tyler; both were former Maine principals and executive directors of the association. Additionally, five $1,000 scholarships will be presented through the efforts of the MPA Scholarship Golf Tournament.

The Principal’s Award is presented in more than 100 Maine public and private high schools by member principals of the MPA, the professional association that represents Maine’s school administrators.

Zachary Caruso named to the dean’s list at Lehigh University

/0 Comments/in , /by

Dean’s list status, which is awarded to students who earned a scholastic average of 3.6 or better while carrying at least 12 hours of regularly graded courses, has been granted to Zachary Caruso, of Waterville, in the Fall 2016 semester, at Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

GARDEN WORKS: EXTEND SUCCESS! Start long-season plants now for best results

/0 Comments/in , /by

GARDEN WORKS

Emily Catesby  Emily Cates

Part 1 of 2

Are you really, really looking forward to the promise of springtime? I am. The biting cold wind battering the frozen ground has given way to a warming breeze beckoning in aromas of thawing soil. As the heady scent of freshly defrosted mud entices my nostrils, I am hurled into an awakened state where I feel an urgent need to start seedlings. If you find yourself similarly inclined, why not read on? Since our area has a limited amount of frost-free days, plants that take a while – such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, leeks, onions, artichoke, and many more herbs, flowers, and the like – will have a greater chance of success if started indoors now. In this two-part article, let’s explore a few practical suggestions on starting long-season plants. This time we’ll look at lighting setups, substrate, suitable containers, watering, and climate-control.

First, the lighting setup. This could be as simple as a sunny, south-facing windowsill, a unit of grow-lights, or the luxury of a sun room or heated greenhouse. To prevent seedlings from becoming leggy once they’ve sprouted keep the containers as close to the lights as possible without burning the plants.

A second ingredient to successful seedlings is the substrate. Always remember to use organically-produced, fresh, pest and disease-free planting medium, whether purchased or homemade. Products that support germination are fine-textured and oftentimes do not contain soil. (These are especially helpful for starting small seeds.) Examples are peat, coir, vermiculite, etc. When purchasing bags of medium, look for those specifically formulated for germination. (Later on, when transplanting, we’ll use a coarser mix with organic matter to provide nutrition for the growing plants- but for now we’re just interested in germination.)

Another important component is a clean, well-drained container that holds the substrate. Possible candidates could include free and abundant used yogurt cups from home or the recycling center. Wash them well and poke holes in the bottoms, label them, fill with planting medium, and they’re good to go! Also, there is this handy dandy little tool called the “pot maker” which you can use to make countless amounts of pots out of plain newsprint. If expense is not an issue and the desire is aesthetic, go for the plastic flats and 6-packs and such found in seed catalogs and gardening centers. Seeds can be individually or collectively sown in smaller containers, but the resulting seedlings are easier to transplant if they are in flats or containers with a larger surface area. With this in mind, you might want to check out soil block makers, which form blocks of soil which can be placed next to each other in a tray and seeded. They are easy to work with, as the roots are “air pruned” as they grow long, making transplanting the seedlings a cinch.

Besides containers, we’ll also want to think about an acceptable source of water. Watering with plain tap water is fine as long as it’s not chlorinated or softened; use filtered water if there is any question. Keep the seeds and seedlings moist, but not waterlogged. If necessary, additional draining holes in the container can be poked through or drilled. Conversely, a clear cover of some sort can be placed over the container to conserve moisture – just check daily to make sure it can breathe.

Temperature is another factor of importance. 80 degrees F and above are necessary for proper germination, so a heat mat or other source of warmth could be used in a cold room. Elaborate climate-controls are highly effective, but potentially expensive. These are especially advantageous in a greenhouse or grow-light systems where the temperature has the tendency to fluctuate or get too hot. A simple oscillating fan is a useful, low-cost possibility. Get even fancier by hooking it up to a thermostat switch that flips it on when it gets above a certain temperature!

So, I hope this is enough info to get you started. I should mention that you can find as much of these indoor-gardening supplies as you’ll need at LaVerdiere’s General Store in China Village. Also, check out FEDCO and Johnny’s as well. Stay tuned for next time!

TECH TALK: Who are you again? How to be anonymous online, Part 1

/0 Comments/in , /by

ERIC’S TECH TALK

by Eric Austin
Computer Technical Advisor

Part 1

Much of the convenience we get from the Internet comes from the fact that it stores so much about us online. This is both a positive and a negative. Sure, it’s nice to be able to order more laundry detergent without leaving the house, or to check on our bank balance without going to the bank. But the price for that convenience is personal exposure.

And that’s what it really comes down to: personal exposure versus convenience. There is no secret formula that will provide you with the latter without sacrificing the former. Any precautions you take online are guaranteed to impact what makes the web so convenient in the first place.

And as with most things in life, the answer to this conundrum is different depending on the person and the situation. How much exposure can you tolerate? Which is more important to you: personal privacy or convenience?

Because truly, the only way to be completely anonymous online is not to go online at all.

But knowledge is power. And knowing the risks, as well as how to protect yourself from them, is as essential to having a successful life online as anywhere else.

In this, and subsequent articles, I’ll discuss a few ways that you can limit your exposure while still getting the most from the benefits of online convenience.

Know your online behavior: Some online activities are riskier than others. Be aware of your level of risk before engaging in anything online, and limit your exposure based on the risk level of what you are doing.

How do you know which activities are risky and which aren’t? Easy. Just ask yourself: “Do I want everyone in the world to know what I’m doing right now?”

If the answer is “No”, then it’s risky.

http:// vs. https:// Every web address begins with “http,” which stands for “Hyper Text Transfer Protocol”. This is the data protocol that dictates how information is transferred across the web. The “s” in https stands for “secure” and means that the data is encrypted before being transferred. This is not such a big deal in 2017, as almost all websites now use the “secure” hyper text protocol for nearly everything. However, it’s worth noting that you should never transfer personal information across a non-secure “http” link.

Private Browsing: One of the easiest tools in your belt for staying anonymous online is “private browsing.” This is a feature in most modern browsers that automatically changes your settings to prevent your browser from saving information about your activities, including: which pages you visit, a record of your searches, cookies, passwords and cached content (like images), among other things. This is called “Incognito” in Google Chrome (Ctrl+Shift+N), and “Private Browsing” in Microsoft Internet Explorer (Ctrl+Shift+P) and Apple Safari (CMD+Shift+N).

While this option won’t safeguard any information you are sending over the Internet, it will prevent you from leaving any trace of your activities on the computer you’re using, which can be used by other websites and advertisers to track you. And you should always activate this feature when using a public PC.

Do Not Track option: The Do Not Track (DNT) option is a fairly recent addition to the settings in your browser which alerts websites and advertisers not to track you. While its effectiveness is entirely dependent on whether the website or advertiser chooses to pay attention to this flag, I still recommend you keep this set to “No” in your browser settings.

Well, this is the end of my column and I’ve barely scratched the surface of this topic. We haven’t talked about Proxies/VPNs, Firewalls, passwords and password managers, virus and malware protection and avoidance, alternative browsers and search engines, or ad blockers! Phew! Tune in next time for part two.

Have a question or idea for a column? Email me at ericwaustin@gmail.com, subject line “Tech Talk!”

CHINA NEWS: Land development issue to go before voters

/0 Comments/in , /by
by Mary Grow

Proposed changes to China’s Land Development Code, presented as a single article in November 2016, now make up articles 46 through 55 in the March 25 town business meeting warrant. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. – if there is a quorum – Saturday, March 25, at China Middle School.

Planning board members, who unanimously endorsed passage of the articles related to land use regulations at their Feb. 28 meeting, hope dividing the questions will make them easier to understand and will allow people to reject specific provisions they dislike while approving others.

Board members plan to attend town meeting to answer voters’ questions. Codes Officer Paul Mitnik has prepared an explanatory handout, which is on the town web site, listed on the left of the main page under the title “Ordinance Revisions March 25, 2017 Annual Town Business Meeting.” Mitnik’s document starts by listing the changes covered in Art. 46 that are required for China’s ordinance to conform to minimum state standards. These changes deal with clearing vegetation and trees, docks and similar structures, campgrounds and signs.

Art. 47 deals with expansion of non-conforming structures. A non-conforming structure is a building in the shoreland zone that does not meet ordinance requirements, usually because it is too close to the water or on a lot that is smaller than the ordinance allows or lacks required water frontage.

Art. 48 deals with seasonal conversion, the change in use of a shoreland building from a seasonal camp to a year-round residence. Mitnik’s explanation says the change, if approved, would repeal China’s current rules and rely on the state’s seasonal conversion regulations to issue or deny a conversion permit. State rules, he wrote, require an adequate septic system; current town rules add lot size, water frontage and building setback standards.

Art. 49 asks voters to add a new section to the ordinance, conforming to but not required by state regulations, allowing exceptions to limits on clearing in the shoreland.

Art. 50 would repeal local regulations on timber harvesting and replace them with statewide standards.

Art. 51, Mitnik explains, makes it clear that water-dependent uses, like fishing or boating, on town or public land do not need to meet water setback standards. If approved, one effect of the change would be to remove any question of the legality of the proposed boardwalk at the head of China Lake’s east basin. The boardwalk is part of the Tax Increment Finance Committee’s recommended project for which Art. 8 in the warrant requests funding.

Art. 52, Mitnik wrote, proposes a rewritten version of conditional use standards (requirements for opening or significantly expanding a business). Currently the Land Development Code requires an applicant to prove a project will not have a list of undesired effects, negative wording the planning board has worked on revising.

Art. 53 deals with signs. If adopted, Mitnik, wrote, the new version grandfathers signs existing in 2010, exempting them from all requirements “except turning off lighted signs at night and digital signs from 10 PM to 6 AM.”

Art. 54 deals with other minor changes, mostly for consistency within the ordinance. Art. 55 amends definitions in China’s ordinance to match state guidelines and adds a definition recommended at a planning board hearing before the November 2016 vote.

CHINA NEWS: Voters to consider ordinance changes

/0 Comments/in , /by
by Mary Grow

At the March 25 town business meeting, China voters will decide on replacement or amended ordinances on three different topics, cemetery management, solid waste disposal and land use.

Article 34, dealing with the 1985 cemetery ordinance and a proposed replacement, is new. Solid waste and land use ordinance changes are being presented again after voters rejected them in November 2016.

Under Art. 34, voters are asked to repeal the 1985 Cemetery Administration and Maintenance Ordinance and replace it with the longer China Cemetery Ordinance.

The 1985 ordinance states its purpose is to create a three-person board of trustees appointed by town selectmen to be in charge of administering and maintaining town cemeteries. The trustees are to appoint a superintendent and determine his pay; sell lots and accept trust funds for maintaining lots and other monetary gifts; and under the selectmen’s supervision spend cemetery funds.

The superintendent has “authority to supervise all burials, interments, disinterments, maintenance and care of public cemeteries.”

The proposed replacement ordinance vests authority over town cemeteries in the town manager and a cemetery committee of at least three people appointed annually by the selectmen. The committee is responsible for spending cemetery funds. A superintendent appointed by the town manager with the selectmen’s approval is to “superintend the digging of all graves, the burial of all bodies from said cemeteries, or from place to place in said cemeteries.”

The ordinance specifies that remains must be in a casket and a cement vault, with no more than one casket and up to three cremains in each plot. The selectmen set lot prices and regulations.

The ordinance would allow regulated hours of access, and contains a list of activities prohibited in cemeteries, including consuming intoxicating beverages, disorderly conduct, hunting, vandalism, letting pets roam at large and failing to pick up dog feces.

The proposed amendments to the Solid Waste Flow Control Ordinance and the Solid Waste Disposal Ordinance are in warrant articles 44 and 45. Major changes, repeated from November, include:

  • In the Flow Control Ordinance, substitution of the planned Fiberight facility for the Penobscot Energy Recovery Company’s Orrington facility as the destination for the town’s combustible and biodegradable waste, and addition of a definition of “volunteers.”
  • In the Solid Waste Disposal Ordinance, allowing disposal of out-of-town waste in accordance with agreements signed by the selectmen, like the agreement with Palermo that came into effect Jan 1. The revised ordinance also changes the transfer station days of operation from Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday to Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Authority for selectmen to make that and future schedule changes was and still is in the ordinance; selectmen have already changed the days, effective in early December 2016.

Solid Waste Disposal Ordinance provisions that have been reworded without changing their meaning include:

  • the attendants’ authority to ban anyone who does not comply with the ordinance or with their orders, to reject hazardous waste or waste not separated as the ordinance requires and if necessary to call for police assistance;
  • the requirement to obtain and display a decal from the town office; and
  • mandatory recycling of metal, newsprint, magazines and cardboard.

Obituaries, Week of March 9, 2017

/0 Comments/in /by

KEITH H. MURRAY SR.

VASSALBORO––Keith H. Murray Sr., 67, of Vassalboro, formerly of Skowhegan and Madison, passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at Central Maine Medical Center, in Lewiston. Keith was born in Skowhegan on May 31, 1949, the son of Henry Murray and Harriet Knowlan.
He was educated in local schools. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1966, proudly serving his country during the Vietnam War.

Keith received several medals for his conduct and service before his discharge in 1970.

He was employed as a heavy equipment operator for many years in the south as well as here in the north east.

He enjoyed riding bikes, especially with his grandson. He liked hunting, fishing, camp fires and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Keith was known to be a stubborn man but he was very generous and outgoing, he would help anyone in need.

He was predeceased by his parents.

Keith is survived by his three children, Keith Murray Jr., Elisha Carmichel and Britt Messer and his wife Nicole; grandchildren, Bryley, Dilon, Alex, Keyanna, Nicolas, Drew and Keylee; and great-grandchildren, Chase and Cassidy.

CLARENCE I. PARISH

WINSLOW––Clarence Ivan Parish, 70, of South Garand Street, died peacefully on Thursday, February 23, 2017. He was born September 9, 1946, in Ansted, West Virginia, the son of Clarence Monroe Parish and Erma Hazel Parish.

He was an avid bowler and on a bowling league for years. Ivan worked in the food industry, and later retired from Pride Manufacturing.

He was predeceased by his parents; brothers Charles and Randy; and sisters Linda and Judy.

He was the father of Jeff, Michael, and Jarrod Parish.

He leaves behind three sisters, Pat, Sharon, and Arlene; as well as five grandchildren.

LISA A. WHITMORE

SOUTH CHINA­––Lisa Ann Labonte Whitmore, 49, passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at her home following a long, extended illness. Lisa was born in Augusta, on October 15, 1967, the daughter of Clement F. Labonte and Victoria (Young) Labonte.

She was predeceased by her mother, Victoria Labonte on October 30, 2005.

Lisa is survived by her father, Clement Labonte, of Augusta; son, Jake Whitmore and fiancée Katherine Sparacio, of Farmingdale; her partner, Dana Prime, and his children David, Christopher, Carlton and Leanna, of South China; two brothers, Maurice Labonte and wife Holly, and their three children, Matthew, Mitchell and Mackenzie, of Readfield and Timothy Labonte and wife Sarah, of Westbrook; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Condolences, photos and stories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.

Memorial donations are preferred to National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1848, Longmont, CO 80502.

KENNETH D. CROSBY

JEFFERSON––Kenneth Donald Crosby, 77, of Jefferson, passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, on April 16, 1939, to the late Donald and Alice Crosby.

Ken was an expert woodsman with many talents. He enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. He was humorous, loved life, and always willing to help anyone in need. Ken was a man you could count on and will be greatly missed.

He was predeceased by his brother, Irving Crosby; and his daughter-in-law, Valerie Crosby.

Ken is survived by his wife of 26 years, Terry Crosby; son, Dean Crosby; daughter Justine Crosby and husband, Joe Lyndon; daughter, Danica Rossignol; grandchildren, Broderick, Chloe and Bria Crosby; Emily, Zach, and Megan Chasse; and Adian Rossignol; brother, Stanley Crosby.
Condolences may be expressed and memories shared at www.lawrybrothers.com.

Memorial donations may be made to MaineGeneral Hospice, 150 Dresden Avenue, Gardiner ME 04345.

LAURETTE QUIRION

WINSLOW––Laurette Quirion, 92, of Winslow, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at Oak Grove Center, Waterville. She was born in Winslow on April 23, 1924, the daughter of Josephat and Mathilda (Ferland) Quirion.

Laurette attended schools in Winslow graduating in 1942, where she was an excellent sports player, especially tennis. Laurette was employed by C. F. Hathaway Shirt Company, MaineGeneral Medical Center, both in Waterville, the soup kitchen and catered with Elias George.

She was predeceased by her parents; sister, Joan Young, brothers, Norman and David Quirion; nephews, Raymond Young, Bruce Pomerleau, David and Paul Quirion; great-niece, Holly Benson; her fiancé, Louis Derosby, who was killed during World War II; and cousin, Arthur Julia.
Laurette is survived by her sister, Wilma Carey and domestic partner/husband, Francis Whitter; and many nieces and nephews.

An online guestbook may be signed and condolences expressed at www.gallantfh.com

Memorial donations may be made to: St. John the Baptist Church, c/o Corpus Christi Parish, 70 Pleasant Street, Waterville ME 04901.

DONNA L. BICKFORD

OAKLAND––Donna L. Bickford, 83, died unexpectedly Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Eastern Maine Medical Center, in Bangor. She was born inn Waterville on November 23, 1933, the daughter of Hadley and Ida (Pouliotte) Richardson.

Donna spent her life as a homemaker, taking care of many children through the years. Her family was her life.

She was predeceased by her brother, Lionel Richardson; husband, Laurel Bickford; and a son, Shawn Bickford.

Surviving are a son, Timothy Bickford; two daughters, Wanda and David Grant, and Lori and Donald Fortier, all of Oakland; and nine grandchildren, Tanya and TJ Butler, David L. Grant, Shonna and Brian Marchetti, Clinton Caron, Kassandra Bickford, Sabrina Bickford, Jonathan and Renee Fortier, Amanda and Dan Brown, and Natasha Bickford. Also surviving are 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at www.lawrybrothers.com.

OTHERS DEPARTED

JOSEPH V. BOLDUC, 83, of Clinton, passed away on Monday, February 6, 2017, in Waterville. Locally, he is survived by his wife Rita Bolduc, of Clinton; children Michael Bolduc and wife Sharon of Fairfield, David Bolduc and wife Jeanne, of Clinton; and sister, Lucille Roberge and husband Jim, of Waterville.

MARY P. HUNTER, 92, of Winthrop, passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2017, at her home. Locally, she is survived by two grandsons, Gabriel DeRaps and wife Mandy, of Windsor, and Christopher DeRaps and wife Kristina, all of Jefferson; grandchildren, Lily, Ally, Makalah, Sophia, Elise, Riella and Serenity DeRaps, all of Windsor, and Audryanna and Emelyn DeRaps, of Jefferson.

LORRAINE A. TRYTEK, 95, of Augusta, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2017, at the Alfond Center for Health, in Augusta, following a brief illness. Locally, she is survived by grandchildren Michele Paradis, of Augusta, Daniel Paradis, of Winslow, Tania Kitchen and husband Robert, of Skowhegan.

BRENDAN BUOTTE, 73, of Augusta, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2017, at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough, of complications from a stroke. Locally, he is survived by a grandson, Joshua Grenier, of Windsor.

EFFIE J. TERO-TESCH, 90, of Augusta, passed away on Saturday, February 25, 2017, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. Locally, she is survived by daughters Margaret Davis and Joyce Perry, both of Windsor; grandson Vernon Perry II, of Windsor.

BEVERLY A. HINKLEY, 84, of Chelsea, passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at the Alfond Center for Health, in Augusta, following a brief illness. Locally, she is survived by a sister, Muriel Plummer, of Weeks Mills.

PATRICIA D. CLEMENT, 69, of Rome, passed away on Monday, February 27, 2017, at her hoe. Locally she is survived by a sister-in-law, Wendy Clement, of Winslow.

JAY N. CROSBY, 55, of Belfast, passed away on Monday, February 27, 2017, at his home. Locally, he is survived by his father, Stanley Crosby, of Jefferson; sister Kelly Colby and husband Nat, of Windsor, and a nephew, Shane Colby and fiancée Chelse Garceau, of Windsor.

JOHN A. JOHNSON, 82, of Belgrade, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at Maplecrest Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, in Madison. Locally, he is survived by children, Barbara Duff and husband Leon, and Emelia Petroski, all of Vassalboro.

FORMER RESIDENTS

KEVIN CORBETT, 62, of Los Angeles, California, died suddenly on Saturday, February 11, 2017, at his home. He was born on December 15, 1954, the son of Robert and Mary O’Donnell Corbett. He graduated from Waterville High School in 1973, Cornell University in 1977 and Boston University School of Law in 1980.

RONALD E. HURD JR., 68, of Bar Harbor, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, while on vacation in Florida. He was born on May 21, 1948, in Portland, the son of the late Doris (LaFleur) and Ronald E. Hurd Sr. Ronnie graduated from Waterville High School, class of 1966, and Thomas College, in Waterville.

HCCA receives lead poisoning prevention grant

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, serving southern Kennebec County, is delighted to have received a Lead Poisoning Prevention grant from the State of Maine Health and Human Services to reduce lead poisoning in Augusta and Gardiner. The grant, recognizing the interconnected nature of communities, provides support for a coalition with representatives from the cities of Augusta and Gardiner, landlords and organizations serving young families. This group will collaborate on ways to reduce childhood exposure to lead, and educate the public on best lead poisoning prevention practices. For more information, and to become involved, contact Project Coordinator, Karen Tucker at ktucker@mcd.org or 207.588.5012.

Hannaford Helps bag program to benefit South China Library

/0 Comments/in , /by

South China Public Library has been chosen for the Hannaford Helps reusable bag program. Visit the China Hannaford any time in March, purchase the “Good Karma” bag, and South China Public Library will receive $1 from the proceeds. This program is designed to support local nonprofits like South China Public Library. Funds raised will benefit the children’s summer reading program. To learn more about South China Public Library, call 445-2956 or visit www.southchinalibrary.org.

Erskine Academy announces calendar changes

/0 Comments/in , /by

Parents and students should be advised of a change to Erskine Academy’s school calendar. Due to excessive storm days, the teacher workshop day scheduled for Friday, March 17, is now a regular school day and will be a white day. Please contact the school with any questions.